Gold Prices Slump to Lowest Level in Five Weeks: What’s Driving the Drop?

Gold jewelry displayed in a Hanoi shop shines less brightly this week, as the value of gold in Vietnam has dipped to its lowest point since April 21.

On Thursday morning, the price of gold bars from Saigon Jewelry Company fell by 1.01%, bringing it down to VND 117.5 million (around US $4,514.20) per tael. Meanwhile, gold rings saw a decline of 0.87%, now sitting at VND 113.4 million per tael. To give you a sense of scale, a tael weighs about 37.5 grams, or 1.2 ounces. Despite this drop, gold has managed to climb 39.5% since the start of the year, a fact that may leave some investors scratching their heads amid recent fluctuations.

Globally, the metal is facing pressure, having slipped to a one-week low following a U.S. federal court’s decision to block President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. This unexpected ruling has diminished gold’s appeal as a safe-haven asset while a strengthening dollar adds further downward pressure. As per reports, spot gold has dipped by 0.7% to $3,268 an ounce, marking its lowest value since May 20.

“This was obviously the most important news driver, and looking at the broad dollar, it rallied on that, pushing gold lower,” said Nicholas Frappell, global head of institutional markets at ABC Refinery. Yet, there remains a silver lining for the gold market; Frappell notes that the long-term outlook hints at a potential weakening of the dollar and persistent inflationary pressures in the near future.

Could it be that in the world of gold, what glitters truly is not gold after all?